SANTA CRUZ -- Millions of people worldwide become victims of human trafficking each year, and it's quickly becoming the second most profitable and prevalent crime after drug dealing.

Despite the estimated 2.5 million people trafficked each year, it's a crime whose victims often go overlooked and relatively few cases result in prosecution. January marks human trafficking awareness month and Women's Crisis Support-Defensa de Mujeres is working to get the word out in Santa Cruz County. The local organization has partnered with other community groups on a number of events and campaigns to draw awareness to this growing crime.

Residents are encouraged to wear white on Friday as part of the national Unite and Wear White campaign, signifying those trapped in darkness. The organization will be collecting photographs of people wearing white in honor of the day for its website and Facebook page. Photos can be emailed to mariab@wcs-ddm.org.

Traffickers use various techniques to intimidate their victims and keep them enslaved, whether it's an actual lock and key or tactics such as isolation from public, confiscation of passports and other identification documents, or threats.

The International Labor Organization, which compiles global statistics about human trafficking, found that about 55 percent of forced labor victims are women and girls. About 98 percent of sex trafficking victims are female.

At the state level, California officials identified 1,277 human trafficking victims between 2010 and 2012, and human trafficking is a growing crime within local and transnational gangs, according to a 2012 report by the state Department of Justice.

Take Back Santa Cruz has partnered with Women's Crisis Support, Commission for the Prevention of Violence against Women and International Sanctuary for the Take Back Our Streets walk Jan. 26. The walk begins at 6:30 p.m. at the Santa Cruz City Hall courtyard and will continue to the corner of Pacific Avenue and Church Street.

Other aspects of the awareness campaign include an exhibit at the Rittenhouse Building throughout the month. Also, throughout the month and beyond, Women's Crisis Center-Defensa de Mujeres is dispersing barcode stickers that read "I am not for sale."

Residents are also urged to participate in the blue heart campaign launched by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime. Similar to the red and pink ribbon campaigns for HIV/AIDS and breast cancer, supporters wear blue hearts to signify solidarity with human trafficking victims. More information is available by contacting Maria Barranco, prevention program director at Women's Crisis Support-Defensa de Mujeres.